Adjusting means for timing chains of automobiles



Oct. 10, 1933. H REGN 1,929,851

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR TIMING CHAINS OF AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F Inventor /4/'cZI pegh By jzwwaarfzw Oct. 10, 1933. v A H, REGN 1,929,851

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR TIMING CHAINS 0F AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor l/Ittorney Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT err-ice ADJUSTING MEANS FOR TIIVHNG CHAINS F AUTOMOBILES Application December 15, 1932- Serial No. 647,467

2 Claims.

This invention relates to means for adjust- Lig chains of timing means of automobiles and i like, the general object of the invention beto provide an eccentric bushing arranged on haft for carrying a gear over which the timing hain passes, and a manually operated exterior member for turning the bushingto adjust the bushing so that the gear will be moved to tighten the chain.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional View through portions of an internal combustion engine showing the invention in use.

' 2 is a View of the adjusting means.

3 is an end view of the bushing.

Fig. i is a view of one of the washers.

In these views, the letter A indicates a part of an automobile engine base and the numeral 1 indicates a stationary shaft supported in a part thereof. A cover 2 encloses thetiming mechanism A bushing 3 is rotatably of the engine. arranged on the shaft in an eccentric manner as shown, and is formed with an extension 10 which passes through a hole in the cover and a gear l encircles the bushing and the belt or chain 5 of the timing means passes over this gear. A spring 6 bears against a part of the bushing and against the housing 2 and an oil groove or passage 7 is formed in shaft 1 and has lateral extensions 8 which communicate with slots 9 formed in the bushing 3, so that the gear will revolve on a body of oil. The projecting part 1% of the bushing is reduced and is of substantially rectangular shape as shown at 10 and passes through a similarly shaped opening 11 in the plate 12 which is provided with a combined handle pointer 13. This plate is held in adjust d position by the bolts l i which pass through the washers 15 into the housing 2 and said bolts through an annular space 16 formed between the plate 12 and a ring 17 which is engaged by portions of the washers as shown. Each washer has a corrugated inner face for engagportions of the plate 12 and the ring 1'7 and also with inwardly extending lugs 18 which extend into the space 16 and act as spacers for holding the ring spaced from the plate.

Thus it will be seen that when the chain or belt needs tightening, it simply necessary to loosen the bolts 14% and then move the plate l2 through means of handle 13 which will cause rotary movement of the bushing, so that the gear 4 is moved farther away from the other gear and thus the chain will be tightened.v The shaft 1 is held in position by a bolt engaging the inner end thereof, and the inner end or" the shaft has a groove 19 therein to receive oil from the oil pumping system of the motor, said groove being in communication with the passage 7.

A gasket 26 is placed between the plate, 12 and ring 17 and the housing to prevent leakage of oil between the part 10 and the walls of the hole of the housing 2 through which said part passes.

By providing the washers 15 and the ring 1'7,

a complete turn of the plate 12 can be made, and 7 I prefer to so arrange the parts that when the member 13 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the eccentric has been moved to its highest position and further adjustment of the chain cannot be made and a new chain must be substituted for the old one so that the device will indicate when a new chain is required.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent. '85

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:---

1. Means for adjusting an endless member comprising a shaft, a housing, a bushing within the housing and eccentrically arranged on the shaft and having a non-circular part extending through the housing, a gear for the endless member rotatably arranged on the bushing, a plate having a non-circular hole therein for receiving said part of the bushing, a combined handle and pointer on the plate, a ring surrounding the plate and spaced therefrom, bolts passing through the space into the housing and washers through which the bolts pass having portions engaging the ring and plate and lugs on the washers spacing the ring from the plate.

2. A device of the class described comprising a supporting member, a shaft rotatably supported thereby, a housing attached to the supporting member and enclosing the shaft, a bushing having ranged on the bushing, a plate rotatably supported on an external wall of the housing and. having a non-circular opening therein for receiving the non-circular part of the projection, whereby turning movement of the plate will turn the bushing on the shaft, a combined pointer and handle on the plate and means for holding the plate in ad. justed position.

ARCHIE HARVEY REGN. 

